Lakeland, Fla. — Timelines for players coming off surgery can be counterproductive. You might think they establish a target that can help focus and motivate them through the rehab grind. But, too often they move. They are variable. And when a target date is missed, the disappointment can set a player back mentally.
Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal isn’t playing that game.
“I hate to put a date on it,” he said. “I’m going to be focusing on my day-to-day progress. I’m not going to set a date and then, if I’m not back by that date, be discouraged.”
So, the question was put a different way: What would you say if you were told there was no way you would be pitching this season?
“I’d call them a liar,” he said.
There was Skubal out on the back fields at TigerTown Thursday morning, in the brilliant Florida sunshine — less than six months after Dr. Neal ElAttrache surgically repaired his left flexor tendon — tossing 40 flat-ground fastballs with a large group of pitchers who are in camp ahead of next week’s official start date for pitchers and catchers.
It was an encouraging sight.
“Everything has gone really well,” Skubal said. “The arm is responding well. I can’t complain about anything. I like where I’m at.”
He’s been making 40 throws from roughly 60 feet four times a week for a few weeks now. He was cleared for full strength and conditioning work two months ago. It’s all fastballs, back-spinning fastballs, thrown at what he called moderate intensity. But it looked like he cut a couple loose Thursday.
“I’m trying not to step on too many,” he said with a smile. “But just trying to progress in a positive manner.”
Where he’s at, Skubal said, is right where he should be at this stage of the recovery.
“I feel great, in terms of how I’m feeling,” he said. “I think I am ahead in terms of how my arm is responding and how the ball is coming out. All very positive things.”
The tricky part now is to keep from pushing things too far too fast. Which, no doubt, is why the Tigers’ newly hired performance coach Shane Wallen was keeping close tabs on Skubal’s work Thursday.
“Yeah, that’s been my problem for the last six months,” Skubal said. “Even before the surgery, that was my problem. But, these guys do a good job. I think I am progressing, and that is what I’m chasing — progress. If I can just get a little better each day and keep progressing, that’s going to put me back on the field at the right time.”
Matthew Boyd, who is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Friday, was among the pitchers getting in some early work Thursday. A year ago, he was roughly in the same position Skubal is in now. Boyd had flexor tendon surgery on Sept. 21, 2021. By the start of spring training last year, he, too, felt strong, felt like he could be pitching competitively by mid-summer, June or July.
Despite all his diligence, he had setbacks in his recovery and didn’t get back officially until Sept. 1.
“It’s a long process and it’s not linear,” Boyd said of his rehab experience. “That was my first time being on the IL like that, my first time having that experience. The rehab process has its ups and downs, and that was unique. It takes patience, and that produces perseverance, right? And that is staying strong.”
Nobody has ever questioned Skubal’s mental toughness. This is a guy who already has fought back from Tommy John surgery in 2017 to establish a new Tigers rookie strikeout record (164) in 2021 and was on his way to being the Tigers’ ace of the staff last year, posting a 2.15 ERA in his first 10 starts before the discomfort started flaring up in his arm.
He threw his last competitive pitch on Aug. 1.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “It’s going to be a ton of fun. Spring training is going to be a ton of fun. Going through this rehab process is going to be a ton of fun and then being in Detroit watching the guys and being around the team — that’s going to be very important for me.”
Hopes are always high at the start of spring training. But, if the Tigers are truly considering letting Skubal finish off his rehab process in Detroit once the season starts, instead of letting him stay in Florida, that is a legitimate indication that they are as optimistic about his return this summer as he is.
Good signs, all.
Twitter: @cmccosky